Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-22

IOw g Can he Mode Norc TsefuI-
.to>, "ost EeHcdtct ny IL.

Eiow g Cau he Made Norc TsefuI-
lose lost Eenodtcd ny IL.
Sew YORK NAL aad Exprss,l
Tho study Of the human memory, its
fun,t1us. its peouhartias, its apparent
neon tstanci6s, amt IFS positive freaks
is remarkably fascinating. and becomes
moro so as The study and. consideration
OF IL IS pursued. And it is subject for
inquiry which comes naturally TO peo-
pie IN widoly-Gi1cTent walks of life and
of course for wdcly-linerent reasons.
The LAWYER Who finds the business of
cross cx.miLaiion AMI the testing of 9th
er peoples memories one of the main
features Of his profession acquires in
the course of q comparatively limited
experience mass OF interesting and
curious information touching the hui
man power OF recalling and detailing
thc PAST the actor WaO j, constantly
memoir ing lines and verses comes ut
q huuN edge of another set of facts al
togotler while the clergyman -espe-
chilly u Scotland, where the honest,
church going pcople contemn and re-
probate "rcader the hotel clerk,
who names guest the moment he en-
t,r, thc hotel lobby. and tine detective
considered the matter IN other, but
equally interesting lights. II the re-
searches that are constantly going
forward in these different direc-
tons could be recorded and the
sdus' results co.iat,d the material
would certainly have uncommon value
aYd importance. There IS one fact
perfectly well established about the
memory now. howCy.r, and TINT that
more than envy other faculty OF the
mind i,may be cult'yatei, strengthened,
and improved. 1t s.aals absolutely
atone IN this respect. lA- imaginative
uOIty, the rtas,uriac pc0ers. indeed,
al tho natural operations Of the mind,
nay hv developed, INT the memory,
properly trained, accompli>hes mar
vels. and. ike Jacks b-lnstalk, grows
TO the skies in s.uele night, or
at lcos. within very short period
Of time Indeed yoI may plant the
seed and raise the flower. Cases stand
on record where men and women have
started with no memory 40 all, with
positive inability to recall pat events,
names, figures, dat , etc, and have
cuurai,si themselves TO DO AL tins with
promItuess ard certainty. and this
much couuo. be- sid for any other of
our mental possessions II q man or
woman Is born without what IS called
an car FOR music or ~ eye for color, no
amount of training or discipline can
give It or establish it IN. .air proper
tiuns one might IS VII attempt to
plant and cultivate potatoes on the
Stone steps OF the custJm-house.
as a. illustration Of the closeness
with which lawyers study The human
memory, the writer remembers being
very much impressed one day several
wears ago with some comments made
by the Late Francis Bangs on the testi-
mony Of witness whom he had exam
inod the previous day in tue course ola
Wcli-known case which was then pend
ing Nh Bangs was maryellously
keen and rapid questOnor on cross-eX-
animation and he had TIPPED mp the
witness referred b. 50 that he had con-
tfpd.ctcd himself fatty. The point had
10 particular bearing On the case, but
the unexpected withdrawal by the wit
ness Of statement which he had pre-
yiously made aud reiterated with pecu-
liar positiveness tended TO affect his
credibility.
And yet" said the lawyer, speak
ing OF the circumstances, the man
was oil right, | think. Bad rs the
thing looked, and his whole testimony
was undoubtedly clouded 10y the con-
tfadiction, / believe he was honest IN
lis first misstatement | have been
absolutely amazed more than once by
the peIsistency with which witnesses
often declare that they have done
things which they have never done,
and they DO not get the thing straight
until questions under crOEs-eXamlna-
ton call mp some association OF Ideas
Or actually demonstrate 10 them that
What they say is impossible. AMI then
They take il all back. II witness OF
Tins kind is Oh the other side ! don't
mind. but If the witness belongs TO me
Il makeb me feel pretty ugly"
IL Is the readiness Of memory in o
lawyer which makes him an adept at
croso-examination. II is his skill IN
TINS direction which enables him TO
yoke the answer just given With the an-
s~er oian hour before and probe the
witness a. 10 its consistency. And il |
beh0oyes the man OF law, therefore, TO |
cultivate his memory, just, it would
appear TO be the wisest move on the |
part Of the modern aldermanic witness
TO cultivate his forgetirlness. But this
only an appearance. 1t is only the
witness who remembers well, aud is
able TO recall the circumstances wildly |
about which he is questioned, aud can |
ADJUST their relative importance, who
oan forget with any success The non